Revelation Bookends

Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation I. Introduction: J. R. R. Tolkien’s Fantasy Fiction

J. R. R. Tolkien’s Fantasy Fiction

Back in the 1970s when I was in my early twenties, I discovered J. R. R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. It became my favorite literary fantasy. I’ve returned to it again and again, even reading it aloud to my ten-year-old son, a project that took a year.

The marvelous land of Middle Earth, threatened by the power of a vile overlord, can only be saved by the daring deeds of a few noble hobbits. If you do not know what hobbits are, you are missing out on the most delightful fictional creatures in all literature. Unknown to the hobbits, they are helped on their quest by the true king of Middle Earth working undercover. The hobbits think of him as Strider, the humble Ranger, who roves the land homeless and seemingly friendless.

In the great climactic battle at the end of the age, good is engulfed by evil until the last hair-raising moment. Frodo the hobbit performs a heroic deed. Darkness turns to light. Finally, Aragorn the King is revealed in all his splendor. This excerpt suggests that Tolkien knew the true King of kings. He knew that human history is all about a real battle between good and evil. He knew that the true King has not yet been revealed in his splendor, but will one day.

Tolkien’s fiction works because it is based on a true understanding of God’s power and the ultimate victory of God and good. The Book of Revelation is the divinely inspired portrait of good engulfed by evil until good prevails at the end. Finally, the real King, Jesus, is revealed. What Tolkien presented in fiction, John presents in reality. Only when we understand the message of the Book of Revelation do the earlier parts of the New Testament—which emphasize the King incognito—fit into proper perspective.

We will read then immediately skip to in order to get the full effect of the most epistle-like verses in this book. The rest of the book is comprised of four visions and we will unpack those as we read through them.

Revelation 1:1–8 NASB95

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 22:6–21 NASB95

6 And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. 7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.” 12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. 13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.